It's hot, what could be more normal in the South in summer? Ah... the Hautes-Alpes and their 300 days of sunshine a year: we are spoiled here and we have learned to live with the heat of Provence. Why do you think many shops don't open before 15 p.m. in Sisteron, Laragne or Serres? The siesta is sacred... it's not laziness... it's common sense! Any summer visitor who would stay "in the full heat" during the siesta would be called a "jobastre" for sure! So don't be "crazy", stay away from the crushing heat and let yourself be guided to the coolest places, from the rivers of the Baronnies Provençales to the shady side of the mountains of the UNESCO Geopark of Haute-Provence. Do you want shade in Orpierre, are you looking for refreshing activities in Rosans, Bayons or Gigors? Here are some tips to tame the hottest hours, escape the heat while enjoying the beauty of the region and the many activities to do when it's (too) HOT!
Are you lucky enough to be on holiday near Sisteron, on a weekend or on a break? Perfect! The heat is easier to bear when you rest! And here, wherever you are, the rivers and bodies of water bring us freshness, the mountains that surround us send us pure air and at night, the temperatures drop and offer us a peaceful sleep. So during a stay between Provence and the Alps, trust the local customs: go out in the morning when it's cool, adopt the rhythm of the siesta, keep cool, respect the aperitif time, prefer pétanque, reading or contemplation, dive as much as you want and enjoy the summer evenings!
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The best thing is to adapt your activities, favoring intense activities in the morning or evening (how about a morning hike in the Méouge gorges? Or a beautiful night out to see the sunset from the Gache mountain? Are you up for it... to book it's over there).
Light meal based on fresh and local products, salads, grilled meats (cooked the day before or bought from the butcher: we also avoid turning on the oven in full heat), goat cheese, seasonal fruits and especially water (still, sparkling, in infusion, with lemon juice, a few saffron pistils, a tea or a lavender syrup: the main thing is to hydrate yourself well!)
Nap time has countless variations: dozing in a comfortable armchair, on a towel by the water, lying on the bed, behind the closed shutters, leaning against a large oak tree, alone or even with someone else… everyone has their own preferences. Others will devote the early afternoon to reading, playing or visiting indoors or even a creative activity. This is the right time to immerse yourself in the 2 volumes of La Cigale d'Or comics, you'll love it!
Around 16 p.m., activities resume; it's snack time: a little ice cream or a mint in water to cool down?
No, no, it's not yet time to open the shutters, the heat would rush into the interior that you have taken care to keep cool since this morning... wait until the sun has set to open! In the meantime, time for discovery, visits and activities!
Swimming is one of the most pleasant ways to cool off. From Sisteron to Rosans, via Ribiers, Garde-Colombe and Serres, many bodies of water await you in all four corners of the territory, and if you prefer the swimming pool in Orpierre, Laragne, Le Poët or La Motte-du-Caire or swimming in the river, you have an even greater choice: from the famous gorges of the Méouge, to the Bayons waterfall via the gorges of the Riou or the banks of the Buëch, our rivers are magical!
Sensations and freshness at the rendezvous
Dive into the aquatic adventure
Summer is hot, but it's THE perfect time to enjoy all the sports activities that the aquatic environment offers us: from a nature canoe trip on the Durance, to abseiling in canyoning or faster with rafting, kayaking and hydrospeed, our guides guide you in the practice, in complete safety, for maximum pleasure! So if you want to move, cool off and have fun with family or friends: book quickly... the hotter it is, the rarer the places are 😉
For fishing, clearly, it is better to wait until the evening or early in the morning if you want to see fish. On the other hand, for a walk along the water, it is at any time and it is so nice to see all the wildlife that, like us, seeks proximity to the water to fight against the heat: birds, butterflies, insects ... keep your eyes open, you may see the traces of animals that pass by during the night: wild boar, deer, fox and beaver.
And for those who have neither a river, nor a lake, nor a swimming pool… there is still the good old basin of water to amuse the children, dolls and Playmobil always dive willingly, and how refreshing it is to splash around in the water!! For the adults, we offer you the “sing in the shower” or “water fight in the garden” competitions…
Warning: water is precious, here more than anywhere else, do not waste it and reuse it in all possible ways!
Underground freshness
Venture underground for guaranteed refreshment
To cool off, there is another solution, quite sporty, very original: the via souterrata! It's like the via ferrata but underground, you set off on an unusual and cool two-hour adventure with a caving guide who has concocted superb routes for you, with abseiling, rope bridges and climbing, pure bliss, in complete safety, and from 5 years old. You might well need a sweater, the temperature is around 9° in the cave: a dream in the middle of a heatwave! Are we off on our caving adventures? Depending on your age and level, Marc and Iannis can offer you a more sporty route with aquatic passages, and crossing a small lake...
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The secrets of old stones
Immerse yourself in the freshness of old-fashioned buildings
Explore history: buildings from another time always have a cool cellar, it's time to discover the priory of Vilhosc in Entrepierres and its magnificent 11th century crypt. A treasure that the owners willingly share during a guided tour by reservation only. In Laragne, the Château de Gaspard de Perrinet also has a very pleasant place to visit in summer, the renovated cellars present temporary exhibitions, you will enjoy strolling there!
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Sheltered from time
Enjoy the historic buildings
But without going underground, the old buildings with thick walls will also offer you cultural visits, enriching... and refreshingly relaxing: Notre-Dame de Calma in Lachau, Notre-Dame de Bethléem in Bayons, visit to the Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Thyrse cathedral and to continue the visit in Sisteron, the hidden passages of the alleys of the old town or the underground staircase of the Citadel are also very refreshing!
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Culture and freshness at the rendezvous
Visit museums and exhibitions in the cool
Take advantage of these moments when you appreciate the interior of a room, often air-conditioned, to visit our museums, art galleries and exhibition halls. The Paléogalerie in Salignac is the perfect place for children (and adults) who are interested in fossils, dinosaurs and the history of our Earth: this museum is a real art gallery for the precious fossils discovered by Luc Ebbo. If you are passionate about the theme, the Edith Robert Museum - Earth and Time in Sisteron will also give you keys to better understand the history of the Earth. Consult the files below to find out what your next visit will be: Gallo-Roman museum in Sisteron, eco-museums in Orpierre, Lagrand, art gallery in Laragne?
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A moment of relaxation in the cool
Enjoy a movie session
Shall we go to the movies? What could be better, when the sun is too scorching outside, than to treat yourself to a little break of freshness while watching a good film, comfortably seated in a seat? The Le Phénix cinema in Laragne and the Le Rex cinema in Sisteron welcome you into their dark rooms: animation, comedy, great classics or previews... There is something for everyone, sometimes even open-air screenings are scheduled in the evenings, shows or broadcasts.
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At the heart of the history of Lake Serre-Ponçon
Experience the immersive adventure of the Muséoscope
Part museum, part exhibition hall, and part cinema, head to the Muséoscope du Lac: sit down, can you feel the drops of water on your face? An eagle flies over the lake and splashes you as it passes. Go back in history to the 60s, relive the transformation of the landscape and the creation of the Serre-Ponçon lake after the destruction of the villages of Ubaye and Savines.
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Challenges to be met, even indoors
Try the adventure of a thrilling escape game!
If you are looking for fun activities to have fun while staying in the shade, why not try an escape game: you will probably sweat, but only because you don't know if you will be able to get out of the Observatoire des Baronnies Provençales in time!
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Creativity and craftsmanship
Take part in creative and inspiring workshops!
For manual workers, the creative workshops will also be nice: pottery, basketwork, working with wool or fabric and why not learn how to make a bouquet or a balm?
height for more freshness
Breathe the fresh air at altitude
With the altitude, it is possible to lose a few degrees, very appreciable, when it is so hot and then often, there is a little more air in the mountains, near a lake or in the forest. A good part of our mid-mountain territory peaks around 1000m. Depending on where you are staying in Sisteron Buëch, remember that you only need to climb 200m to gain a degree of freshness! What would you say to walking on the heights of Éourres at the bottom of the Méouge valley? To seek the freshness in the forest on the road from the Col de Faye to Ventavon or to reach the Lac des Monges at 1544m? Sometimes semi-nocturnal outings are organized to admire the sunset from the heights, not to be missed, the walks are very pleasant and the landscape at nightfall is just MAGICAL.
The sun is setting
Come on, it's time to go out
The days are long in summer and as soon as the sun goes down, there are many activities that allow you to move, have fun, spend evenings with friends, and party! In each village, the nights are used to offer you entertainment, night outings, shows or night markets. We start the week with a small evening market in Serres, a welcome drink in front of the tourist office, and a musical start to the evening.
An unmissable event on Tuesday evenings in Laragne, the Quartiers d’été delight spectators who come to enjoy a cultural moment in the courtyard of the castle.
On Tuesday and Friday in Moydans, the cosmic shows immerse you in the Milky Way. On Wednesday evening in Orpierre, the local producers' market is a special time for locals, holidaymakers and producers to meet.
The small markets of La Bâtie-Montsaléon bring together producers and visitors around an improvised meal, with whatever you find to your taste. Head to the Hautes Terres for Ciel mon marché, which visits a village in the valley every Thursday.
On Friday evenings in Ribiers, the Estivales ribieroises liven up the village with a small market and a dance. It's the time for village festivals, festive streets and fireworks; at night, we party and observe the stars. Did you know that we are lucky to have an astronomical observatory very close to Rosans? That's good, because it offers summer evenings as close as possible to the stars, in the dome!
